Young Ramona actor receives honor in Hollywood

How many young, budding actors dream of walking the red carpet in Hollywood and sharing the big screen with the likes of Morgan Freeman, Neil Patrick Harris, and Jennifer Love Hewitt?

Twelve-year-old actress Taylor Hay has done that and more. Most recently, the Ramona resident was recognized at the Bizparentz CARE Awards held at Universal Studios in Hollywood on April 30.

The young actress was recognized along with over 100 other child actors during the yearly event. The CARE Awards recognize children in the acting industry for not only their professional work, but also academic excellence, charity work with nonprofit organizations, union membership, and maintaining a positive, responsible image to the public. Parents are also required to show responsibility in maintaining their child’s career.

Hay has been honored for the past two years for her work. She qualified for the award through her work on the movie, “Wish Wizard,” with Morgan Freeman and Ed Begley Jr., to be released later this year, and “Yes, Virginia,” produced by Macy’s and animated by Tim Burton. Her latest project, “Blind,” involves a blind girl who finally finds the strength to challenge her neglectful caregiver.

Hay, a cancer survivor, has also worked hard to support the Make A Wish Foundation, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and Rady Children’s Hospital by appearing as a keynote speaker at a variety of fundraising events and by spearheading multiple fundraising efforts to benefit these charities.

“I feel so lucky to be honored alongside such a great group of kids,” said Hay. “It’s great to have friends who understand acting and who have similar interests as mine. It also gives me a chance to draw more attention to the great charities I represent. If it weren’t for them, I might not even be here!”

Hay is an eighth-grader in the Montessori program at Ramona Community School. She plans to take some online college classes next year. She loves to compete on her Arabian horses and has earned national honors for the past two years with her horses.

The CARE Awards are presented by the BizParentz Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to education, advocacy, and charitable support to parents and children engaged in the entertainment industry. For more information about the BizParentz CARE awards, visit www.bizparentz.org or call 818-731-9897.